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| PTDA Report Market Outlook | |||||||||
While other industries may be experiencing slowdowns leading to recessionary forecasts, sales trends for distributors and manufacturers in the power transmission/motion control industry are still strong, reporting month-to-month sales gains in both U.S. and Canadian markets. | |||||||||
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U.S. manufacturers’ sales were up again for the second month. Sales in February 2008 increased 8.5% compared to January 2008. Orders were also up, posting a 6.3% gain over January 2008. The confidence level of U.S. manufacturers held steady at 5.5 (on a 10-point) for the eighth month in a row. Canadian manufacturer’s sales were also positive in February, posting a 6.8% gain over January 2008. Sales were also up compared to the same period last year with a gain of 3.5% over February 2007. The confidence level of Canadian manufacturers showed a decrease, dropping 0.1 to 5.1 (on a 10-point scale) from January 2008. Product-by-product sales between January 2008 and February 2008 reflect the overall growth in sales experienced by both U.S. and Canadian manufacturers. All product categories for U.S. manufacturers experienced sales growth. For Canadian manufacturers, all product categories, except shaft couplings and variable speed drives, experienced a positive change in sales. The Market Outlook Report is published monthly by the Power Transmission Distributors Association. The full report includes month-to-month and year-to-year changes for the current and the previous year in sales, inventory and accounts receivables for U.S. and Canadian distributors as well as a general confidence index. U.S. and Canadian manufacturer data includes a confidence index, as well as sales and order trends for mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, variable speed drives, positioning systems/linear motion products, gear products, clutches and brakes, shaft couplings and mechanical drive systems and other PT products. Year-end data for 2006 and 2007 is available in a complete report. The monthly data is available by subscription via e-mail or mail. To purchase the year-end data or to begin a subscription to the monthly data, order online at www.ptda.org/store or call PTDA at +1.312.516.2100. PTDA members may download the report at no charge through the PTDA web site at www.ptda.org/MOR. | |||||||||
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Canadian distributors also continue to post positive gains in PT/MC sales, rising 10.1% in February 2008. Sales growth over the same period last year was up 1.1%. Days sales in account receivables dropped 2.7% as compared to January 2008. In February 2008, the confidence level of Canadian distributors rose to 5.7 (on a 10-point scale), its highest level since September 2007.
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